Button



p l 1942- I F. A. BALLOU. JR 2,279,259

BUTTON Filed Nov. 13, 1940 INV EN TOR.

flmlm YAZM ow A TTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 7, 1942 BUTTON Frederick A. Ballou, Jr., Providence, R.1., as

signor to B. A. Ballou & C0.,,Inc., a corpora- 1 tion of Rhode IslandApplication November 13, 1940, Serial No. 365,473

3 Claims. (CI. 24-105) This invention relates to a separable button,more particularly of the type use for a lapel emblem; and has for one ofits objects to provide for the securing of a button in place to preventaccidental unscrewing of the separable parts thereof.

Another object of the invention is to utilize the resiliency of thefabric to which the button is attached to apply tension to increase thefriction and prevent accidental unscrewing of the parts.

Another object of the invention is to locate the frictional pressurewhere it will be most effective in its operation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, as will be more fully described, andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the button as applied to thelapel of the coat;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the button and the fabric to which itis attached;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the members of the back unit ofthe button;

Fig. 4 is a View on substantially line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the other member of the back member of thebutton;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the back unit assembled;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a modified form of unit such as shown inFig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of a modified form of unit such as shown inFig. 3; and

Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

In the use of separable buttons such as are used for emblems on thelapel of a coat, two separable units are provided to engage oppositesurfaces of the fabric and it is desirable to have some part of the backunit grip the back of the fabric when moved into engagement therewithand be nonrotatable, and another rotatable part urging thefabric-engaging part toward the fabric. In such an arrangement theprovision of friction to prevent relative rotation of the members of theback unit is desirable, and it is provided in the present case at alocation spaced 2. maximum distance from the center of rotation whichwill be most efiective; and the following is a more detailed descriptionof the present embodiment of this invention, illustrating the preferredmeans by which these advantageous results may be accom-v plished:

With reference to the drawing, one unit of the button comprises the faceplate III which will be provided with some emblem or other which is tobe displayed. This face plate may be separate from and secured to aflange which is integral with the threaded post I2 extending rearwardlytherefrom. This post I2 will extend through an opening I3 in the fabricI4 of the lapel I5 of the coat, as shown in Fig. l, in which position itis desired that the button be secured. Securing of the face unit isaccomplished by a back unit designated generally I6 and shown completein Fig. 6. The back unit consists of two members, one illustrated inFig. 3 designated generally I1,- and the other illustrated. in Fig. 5and designated generally I8.

The member shownin Fig. 3 consists of a cylindrical collar portion I9:having a series of teeth 20 about its edge, these teeth being directedtoward the face plate I0 and the collar being concentric with the postI2. A flange 2| extends outwardly at right angles to the central axis ofthe collar I9 and at its periphery is provided with a plurality ofwavy-like portions 22 which provide projections 23 on its undersurfacewith recesses 24 between these projections 23.

The other member of the back unit consists of a sleeve 25 threaded as at26 internally to threadingly engage the post I2. Extending outwardlyfrom this sleeve there is a disc-like portion or plate 21 which is of asize slightly larger in diameter than the flange 2I of the member I'I,while upwardly extending from the outer edge of this plate there is aportion 28 which receives within it the member I I. This portion 28 isrolled over the flange 2| of the member H as at 29 (see Fig. 6) so as toloosely assemble the two members together as shown in Fig. 2. Adjacentthe rolled-over edge and at the outer periphery of the plate of thedisc-like portion 21, I have also provided a series of projectionsdesignated 38 upstanding from the surface thereof and which will engagethe projections 23 of the member I'I as'relative rotation of the membersI 1 and I8 occurs.

As the back unit is assembled on the post I2, the teeth 20 of collar I9will engage the fabric I4 and this member I1 will then stop turning;while rotation of'the member I8 will feed the back unit onto the post I2and pressure will occur in the face-to-face engagement of the flanges 2|and the plate 21. The relative rotation, however, will be retardedbecause of the interrupted flat surfaces formed by knobs 23 on the edgeof the member I! and the projections 30 of the member I8. Thus, asturning occurs, it will be necessary to force the projecprojections anyloosening engagementwill be retarded because it will be necessary forthe pro jections of one member to be forced one over the projections ofthe other member in any release movement which will not'accidentallyoccur without manual manipulation.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown a modified form in which relativeinterrupted surfaces engage the projections 3| closer together andinstead of providing a wavy edge at 22, I have here provided aninterrupted surface by depressed portions 32 providing ridges 33 betweenthe depressions for engagement with the knobs 3| for retarding .ofrelative movement of the two members of the back unit.

I claim:

1. In a button, separable units, one unit having a face plate with athreaded'post extending rearwardly therefrom, the other unit comprisinga pair of relatively rotatable members, one of said members having afabric-engaging portion to'which the button is: to be attached, and theother of said members having a threaded socket to. engage said thi'eadedpost, said members each having friction means at their peripheralmargins with the means on one member extending into the path of travelof the means on the other member and engageable with each other toprevent accidental relative rotation between said members.

2. In a button, separable-units, one unit having a face plate. withathreaded post extending rearwardly therefrom, the other unit comprisingarranged somewhat a pair of relatively rotatable members, one of saidmembers having a fabric-engaging portion to which the button is to beattached, and the other of said members having a threaded socket toengage said threaded post, each of said members being generally of discshape with portions in face-to-face engagement, and each being providedwith projections at its peripheral edge, with the projections on each ofsaid members extending towards and in the path of rotation of theprojection on the opposite member and engageable with each other asrotation occurs, to prevent accidental relative rotation of saidmembers.

3. In a button, separable units, one unit having a face plate with athreaded post extending rearwardly therefrom, the other unit comprisinga pair of relatively rotatable members, one of said members having afabric-engaging portion to which-thebutton is to be attached, and theother of .said members having a threaded socket to engage said threadedpost, each of said members being generally of fiat plate formation andpositioned one above the other with the edges of one rolled over theedges of the other, and with the surfaces of each member adjacent toeach other provided at the peripheral edge thereof with an interruptedsurface portion providing abutments on each member extending towardseach. other at a location for the abutments of one member to engage withthe abutments of the other member as relative rotation occurs to preventaccidental relative rotation of the said members.

FREDERICK A. BALLOU, JR.-

